We were delighted to host alumnus Kyan Patel '23 on campus this week! Patel, now in his junior year at Wake Forest University, spoke to the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools about his burgeoning art career and about where it all started.

As a sophomore at StC, Patel first earned recognition for his portrayals of his friends and student athletes, the first being a realistic portrait of fellow alumnus Andre Green '22, who at the time was headed to the University of North Carolina to play football. From there, Patel's career accelerated quickly, as other athletes showed interest in his work. What started as a one-off project for fun quickly turned into Patel's artistic niche. Speaking to the Saints community this week, Patel urged students to take chances on things that may seem impossible, look for opportunities and discover what makes them feel challenged and fulfilled. "That's the funny thing about passion," said Patel during a talk with students. "It can find you when you least expect it."

Now as a busy college student studying economics and studio art, Patel hasn't slowed down. He balances the daily demands of school with composing pieces for NFL and NBA players and collaborating with major brands like ESPN and EA Sports. One of his latest pieces celebrates Canadian-based Indian singer and rapper Karan Aujla, and Patel has plans to work with more musicians in the future. He also wants to focus on continuing to develop his art. "Obviously, the work can get better and more realistic," he said. "However, I want to try to find ways to distinguish myself so that people know who did the work just based on the style." Great seeing you again, Kyan!